Unitizing tray



R. J. HENNESSEY A ril 26, 1966 UNITIZING TRAY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 21, 1964 F/aZ 3 ms W 1 N m4 2 j w 4 J. v A w I 1 m z 5 H 3 I 0 k u 3 a n 2 I m1 v F 2 Iv/FL l w April 26, 1966 R. J. HENNESSEY 3,248,038

UNITIZING TRAY Filed July 21, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 L 35/ /L36 40 35 37 I 36 MENTOR 4/ 4/ Russaz J. flzAl/vrssfr ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 26, 1966 tion Filed July 21, 1964, Ser. No. 384,106 6 Claims. (Cl. 229-32) This invention relates to an improvement in unitizing trays and deals particularly with an inexpensive tray structure capable of holding a series of packages of breakfast food or a similar product. I

Most companies in the business of producing breakfast foods package their products not only in large packages designed forhome consumption, but also in small individual packages oftentimes used in restaurants and the like. Most of the companies also produce a variety pack of breakfast food comprising a number of individual packages of breakfast foods of different types. When this is done, some means must be provided for unitizing the various packages so that they may be sold as a unit. In view of the low cost of the product, the unitizer must beas inexpensive as possible. Furthermore, it is desirable that the untizing means display the major portion of the main panel of the individual carton so that the prod net of each individual package may be prominently displayed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a unitizing tray which may be used for this purpose and which is inexpensive to produce.

In order to hold the packages securely together, it is desirable that the unitizing trays extend at least half-way up on the individual packages in order to contain them. However, if the walls of the tray are solid, the tray would then conceal the major portion of the display panels.

Trays may be produced having relatively narrow strips or bands of paperboard in place of full walls. However, trays of this type are extremely hard to form as it is very difificult to control the position of the narrow bands forming the walls in the gluing of the trays. It is an object of "the present invention to provide a tray which, when formed, is provided with narrow bands extending across the main panels of the cartons and yet which may be glued at high speed on conventional gluing equipment.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a tray of the type described having a reinforced bottom panel. In forming the trap, portions of the side walls which are cut away to display the contents are glued to the bottom panel of the tray, thus forming a relatively stiff bottom panel and permitting the tray to be formed of relatively thin and lightweight paperboard.

Theseand other objects and novel features of the present invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specifications and claims.

In the drawing forming a part of the specifications,

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the tray in set up form, the packages of the tray being illustrated in dotted outline.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the tray in folded condition. 1

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the tray in partially opened position.

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the open tray.

FIGURE 5 is a diagrammatic view of the blank from which the tray is formed.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of the tray.

FIGURE 7 is a top plan view of the tray shown in FIGURE 6 when in folded condition.

FIGURE 8 is a side elevational view of the modified form of tray in partially opened position.

FIGURE 9 is a top plan view of the open tray shown in FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 10 is a diagrammatic view showing the blank from which the tray in FIGURE 6 is formed.

The tray A is designed to unitize and connect a series of individual packages B, the individual packages B being of proper size to fit in a rectangular group. The tray A is shown in FIGURE 5 as including a bottom panel 10 of rectangular form and of a proper size to accommodate the group of individual packages thereupon. End wall panels 11 are hingedly connected to opposite ends of the bottom wall 10 along parallel fold lines 12. Side walls 13 are hingedly connected to opposite sides of the bottom panel 10 along parallel fold lines 14. Corner flaps 15 are connected to opposite ends of the side walls 13 along extensions of the fold lines 12.

In order to glue the tray in flat form, diagonal fold lines 16 and 17 extend aross the opposite ends of the side walls 13, the fold lines 16 and 17 converging from each juncture between the fold lines 14 and the fold lines 12. In the construction illustrated in FIGURES 1 to 5, the side walls 13 are notched along their upper edges with substantially triangular notches. In other words, the upper edges of the walls 13 are defined by parallel cut lines 19 which extend from the end of one of the fold lines 12 to a point spaced from the opposite fold line 12. Cut lines 20 connect the ends of the cut lines 19 to substantially full height end portion 21 adjoining this opposite fold line 12. Thus, both ends of the side Walls 13 are of full height while the intermediate portion of the side walls are arranged on a slant.

A substantially trapezoid-a1 bottom panel reinforcing flap 22 is provided in the side walls 13; One side of each reinforcing flap 22 is defined by the fold line 14. The remaining sides of the flap 22 are defined by cut lines which are interrupted at spaced points so that the flaps 22 are not completely separated from the remainder of the side walls 13 but will break away from the remainder of the side walls easily when the tray is opened. These perforated cut lines defining the remaining edges of the flap 22 include a short cut line 24 which extends outwardly from the fold line 14 at a point spaced from the end of the fold line 14, an angularly extending cut line 25 'which extends parallel to the edge 19 of the side wall 13 in which it is found, a cut line 26 which coincides with a center portion of the diagonal fold line. 17, and a cut line 27 which connects the out line 26 to the fold line 14 e at a point spaced from the opposite end of this fold line.

The tray is glued by folding the center portions of the side walls 13, which are between the diagonal fold lines 16 and 17, into f-ace contact with the bottom panel 10, folding the ends of the side walls 13 along the diagonal fold lines 16 and 17 so that the portions of the side walls outwardly of the diagonal fold line 16 and 17 lie in face contact with adjoining areas of the center portions of the side walls 13, and folding the corner flaps 15 along the fold lines 12 to over-lie the adjoining end portions of the side walls. The end walls 11 are folded over the corner flaps 15 and adhered thereto. This type of tray is known to the trade as an in folded, diagonally creased Brightwood tray.

During the folding operation, adhesive is applied to the surfaces of the reinforcing flaps 22 forming the inner portions of the side Walls. As a result, the flaps 22 are adhered to the bottom panel 10. Adhering the side walls to the bottom panel would normally prevent the opening of the tray. However, with the present construction, as

the tray is opened by folding the end walls 11 toward right-angular relation to the bottom panel 10, as indicated in FIGURE 3 of the drawings, the side Walls separate along the perforated cu-t lines 24, 25, 26, and 27 so that only the upper portions of the side walls fold into tightang ular relation to the bottom panel 10. Thus the upper portions of the side walls form relatively narrow bands which expose the major portion of the main panels of the individual cartons-B.

If the areas forming the reinforcing flaps 22 were .cut away and stripped from the blank prior to folding, it would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to fold and glue the blanks on high speed equipment. However, by retaining these reinforcing flaps 22 as a part of the side walls 13 during the folding operation, the blanks may be folded at conventional speeds on regular equipment.

The purpose of notching the side walls in the manner described is twofold. Placing the bands forming the upper portions of the side walls 13 on a slant adds to the appearance of the finished tray. Of more importance from a structural standpoint is the fact that the height of the side walls may be somewhat increased by this arrangement. It will be noted that one end of each side wall extends across the center line of the bottom panel in flat form of the blank. At the same time, the side walls do not overlap at any point. This arrangement is made possible by the fact that the full height portions 21 of the side walls are outwardly of the diagonal fold lines 16 and thus extend longitudinally of the tray in flat folded form. Usually, it is impossible to make the side walls more than one-half the width of the bottom panel if the side Walls are not to overlap when the tray is folded.

FIGURES 6 through 10 of the drawings disclose a modified form of Itray which is vintually identical with the tray A with exception of the fact that the side walls do not exceed one-half the width of the bottom panel. The tray C includes a bottom panel 30 which is foldably connected along parallel fold lines 31 to end wall panels 32. The bottom -.panel 30 is also foldably connected to side walls 33 along parallel fold lines 34. .The side walls 33 are of a width substantially equal to one-half the width of the bottom panel 3%). Corner flaps 35 are foldably connected to the ends of the side walls 33 along extensions of the fold lines 31. Diagonallyextending fold lines 36 extend across the side walls 33 from the intersection be-' tween the fold lines 31 and 34.

The side walls 33 are divided into an outer band section 37 and a reinforcing flap 39. One edge of each reinforcing flap 39 is connected to the bottom panel 30 along the fold line 34. The ends of the flap 39 are defined by cut lines 38 which extend diagonally into the side walls 33 along, or inwardly of, the diagonal fold lines 36. The ends of the flap 39 are connected to the band portions 37 along parallel perforated lines 40.

In forming the tray C, the center portions of the side walls 33 between the diagonal fold line 36 are folded into face contact with the bottom panel 30 and the flap 39 are adhered in face contact with the bottom panel 30. The side walls are folded along the diagonal fold line 36 so that the trangular areas 41 outwardly of the fold lines 36 over-lie the adjoining areas of the side walls 33 in face contact therewith. At the same time, the corner flaps 35 are folded along the fold lines 31 to over-lie the triangular corner portions 41. The end walls 32 are folded inwardly and adhered to the corner flaps 35 to complete the tray.

When the end walls 32 are folded outwardly in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 8 of the drawing, the band portions 37 of the side Walls 33 break away from the reinforcing flap 39 along the perforated lines 40, leaving the flap 39 adhered to the bottom panel 30. As the bands 33 are relatively narrow, they expose a portion of the main panels of the individual cartons B contained therein. 7

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles, construction, and operation of my unitizing tray; and while I have endeavored to set forth the best l embodiments thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim: 1. A unitizing tray adapted for use in holding a series of articles assembled, including:

a bottom panel of rectangular shape, end walls hinged to opposite ends of said bottom panel, side walls hingedly connected to opposite side edges thereof, corner flaps connecting the ends of said side walls to the sides of said end walls, bottom reinforcing flaps defined by weakened lines of separation in said side walls terminating at the lines of fold connecting said side walls to said bottom panel, and

said bottom reinforcing panels being adhered in face contact with said bottom panel and holding portions of said side walls in face contact with said bottom panel until separated therefrom.

2. The structure of claim 1 and in which the side walls I are diagonally creased.

3. The structure of claim 2 and in which the upper edges of said side walls slope from one end to the diagonal fold line at the other end.

4. A paperboard tray in flat folded form including:

a rectangular bottom panel,

end wall panels hingedly connected to the ends of said bottom panel,

side walls hingedly connected to said bottom panel along parallel fold lines,

diagonal fold lines extending across said side walls from the ends of said parallel fold lines defining a center side wall portion between said diagonal fold lines and corner portions outwardly of said diagonal fold lines,

corner fia-ps hinged to the ends of said side walls, each said center portion being divided by a weakened line of separation into a reinforcing flap hingedly connected by one of said parallel fold lines to the bottom panel and inwardly of said weakened line, and a band portion outwardly of said weakened line of separation,

said center portions of said side walls being in face contact with said bottom panel and said reinforcing fla-ps being adhered thereto while said band portions are unadhered thereto,

said corner portions being folded along said diagonal References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,281,165 4/1942 Miller 229-32 X 2,311,137 2/1943 Sunderhauf et al.

2,552,643 5/1951 Mulnix 229l6 2,652,335 9/1953 Conti 229-32 X 2,968,392 1/1961 Schwebs 22916 X GEORGE O. RALSTON, Primary Examiner, 

1. A UNITIZING TRAY ADAPTED FOR USE IN HOLDING A SERIES OF ARTICLES ASSEMBLED, INCLUDING: A BOTTOM PANEL OF RECTANGULAR SHAPE, END WALLS HINGED TO OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID BOTTOM PANEL, SIDE WALLS HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO OPPOSITE SIDE EDGES THEREOF, CORNER FLAPS CONNECTING THE ENDS OF SAID SIDE WALLS TO THE SIDES OF SAID END WALLS, BOTTOM REINFORCING FLAPS DEFINED BY WEAKENED LINES OF SEPARATION IN SAID SIDE WALLS TERMINATING AT THE LINES OF FOLD CONNECTING SAID SIDE WALLS TO SAID BOTTOM PANEL, AND SAID BOTTOM REINFORCING PANELS BEING ADHERED IN FACE CONTACT WITH SAID BOTTOM PANEL AND HOLDING PORTIONS OF SAID SIDE WALLS IN FACE CONTACT WITH SAID BOTTOM PANEL UNTIL SEPARATED THEREFROM. 